The INEOS Grenadiers team announced today, Monday, that Colombian Egan Bernal will return to the Tour de France after a long absence. The 2019 champion withdrew from the race in 2020 and also missed the 2021 edition, where he won the Giro d'Italia. He did not compete in the 2022 edition either after suffering serious injuries from an accident at the beginning of last year.
Bernal stated in a team release, "Returning to the Tour de France has always been a goal for me. I am very excited to participate in every stage of this race." He added, "Cycling fans have followed what happened to me since the accident last year and the journey I went through to overcome the toughest test of my life. Being part of the team lineup for this year's Tour de France reassures me that I am on my way back to my best form."
Bernal finished 12th overall in the Criterium du Dauphine, the largest preparatory race leading up to the Tour de France. The Tour de France will start from Bilbao, Spain, next Saturday.
